Aikido or "the way in harmony with ki" is a classic, yet modern Japanese martial art, whose origin is traditionally attributed to the famous twelfth century warrior-general Shinra Saburo Yoshimitsu. [The term 'ki' may be loosely translated as the cosmic spirit or the universal force.] This martial art was transmitted in the Takeda clan till 1575, after which it was practiced in the province of Aizu. Teaching of this martial art to outsiders was strictly forbidden till the latter part of the nineteenth century, when feudal provinces were abolished in Japan. Takeda Sokaku (or Sokaku Takeda by the U.S. convention), one of its last fully licensed practitioners, started teaching outside the Aizu province, calling it Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu (sometimes also known as Yamato-ryu jujutsu). One of his outstanding students, Morihei Ueshiba, taught it as aiki-jujutsu; he then changed the name to aiki-bujutsu, and later to aikido. It is the latter name by which this martial art has become best known.
Kenji Tomiki first studied judo under Jigoro Kano, the founder of Kodokan judo, and began practicing aiki-jujutsu under Morihei Ueshiba with the encouragement of Kano himself. In 1938, Tomiki became the first of Ueshiba's students to receive menkyo-kaiden, the ultimate certification in the Japanese martial arts. Kenji Tomiki developed his efficient aikido training system applying the twin principles of judo, "Maximum Efficiency with Minimum Effort" and "Mutual Benefit" enunciated by Professor Jigoro Kano. Both Professors Kano and Tomiki were outstanding educators, Kano as President of a prestigious college (which has become the Tsukuba University) and Tomiki as Professor at the Waseda University.;LKL';L';;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Tomiki (Sport) Aikido Club of the University of Toronto
Tomiki Aikido International Curriculum
Kyu Grade Syllabus
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8th Kyu (red belt) + 2 white stripes
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7th Kyu (red belt) + 1 white stripe
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6th Kyu (red belt)
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5th Kyu (yellow belt)
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4th Kyu (orange belt)
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3rd Kyu (green belt)
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2nd Kyu (blue belt)
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1st Kyu (brown belt)
Dan Grade Syllabus
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1st Dan (Shodan)
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2nd Dan (Nidan)
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3rd Dan (Sandan)
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4th Dan (Yodan)
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5th Dan (Godan)
KYU GRADE SYLLABUS
(Rev. 4/10/95)
8th Kyu (more than 20 hrs practice after starting)
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UnsokuKouhou ukemi (standing)Yoko ukemi (standing)Aigamae katate dori – shomen ate, oshitaoshi, kotegaeshi
7th Kyu (more than 20 hrs practice after 8th kyu)
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Tegatana dousaZenpou kaiten ukemi (on one knee)Gyakugamae katate dori – aigamae ate, hikitaoshi, tenkai kotehineri
6th Kyu (more than 20 hrs practice after 7th kyu)
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Zenpou kaiten ukemi (standing)Kouhou ryote dori - gyakugamae ateAigamae katate dori - wakigatameHanza handachi gyakugamae katate dori - tenkai kotegaeshi
5th Kyu (more than 40 hrs practice after 6th kyu)
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Suwari waza Shomenuchi - oshitaoshi osaeKihon waza Atemi waza (shomen ate, aigamae ate, gyakugamae ate, gedan ate, ushiro ate)Kihon no tsukuri Atemi waza, hontai no tsukuri (shomen ate, aigamae ate)Kansetsu waza, tegatana jodan no tsukuri (oshitaoshi, hikitaoshi)
4th Kyu (more than 40 hrs practice after 5th kyu)
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Suwari waza Shomenuchi - oshitaoshi gyakutedori kotehineri osaeKihon waza Hiji waza (oshitaoshi, udegaeshi, hikitaoshi, udehineri, wakigatame, wakigatame)Kihon no tsukuri Atemi waza, hontai no tsukuri (gyakugamae ate, gedan ate, ushiro ate)Kansetsu waza, tegatana gedan no tsukuri (tenkai kotegaeshi, kotegaeshi)
3rd Kyu (more than 40 hrs practice after 4th kyu)
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Suwari waza Shomenuchi - oshitaoshi juntedori kotehineri osaeKihon waza Tekubi waza (kotehineri, kotegaeshi, tenkai kotehineri, tenkai kotegaeshi)Nage waza Nage no kata omote waza (go no sen no kuzushi)Kihon no tsukuri Atemi waza, hontai no tsukuriKansetsu waza, nigiri gaeshi jodan no tsukuri
2nd kyu (more than 60 hrs practice after 3rd kyu)
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Suwari waza Shomenuchi - oshitaoshi tekubi osaeKihon waza Uki waza (maeotoshi, sumiotoshi, hikiotoshi)Nage waza Nage no kata ura waza (go no sen no kuzushi)Kihon no tsukuri Atemi waza, shouki no tsukuri (shomen ate, aigamae ate)Kansetsu waza, nigiri gaeshi gedan no tsukuri
1st Kyu (more than 60 hrs practice after 2nd kyu)
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Kihon waza Randori kihon waza (uke without tanto)Kihon ura waza Atemi waza no ura (wakigatame, oshitaoshi, gedan ate, aigamae ate, tenkai kotehineri)Kansetsu waza no ura (oshitaoshi, tenkai kotehineri, kotegaeshi, wakigatame, tenkai kotegaeshi)Kihon no tsukuri Atemi waza, shouki no tsukuri (gyakugamae ate, gedan ate, ushiro ate)Kansetsu waza, hiji mochi no tsukurijodan (juntedori, gyakutedori)gedan (juntedori, gyakutedori)Randori hou taisabaki (against tanto)- without using hands using tegatana
Notes
1. Kihon no tsukuri must be done twice on both left and right sides. The second time the technique must be completed without stopping.
2. Tsukuri practice.
(a) Atemi waza - hontai no tsukuri - in five directions from the correct distance
- shouki no tsukuri - in five directions at the time of uke's feet touching down
- tsukuri from taisabaki - in six directions after taisabaki
(b) Kansetsu waza - tegatana no tsukuri - aigamae and gyakugamae, jodan (eye level) and gedan (knee level)
- nigirigaeshi no tsukuri - jodan and gedan, junte and gyakute grips
- hiji mochi no tsukuri - junte and gyakute grips using both hands, in front of and behind uke.
Definition of Terms for Kyu-Level Syllabus
Aigamae katatedori Right hand grasp to right wrist, or left hand grasp to left wrist
Atemi waza "Striking" techniques
Chudan Middle level
Gedan Low level
Go no sen After uke's attack
Gyakugamae katatedori Right hand grasp to left wrist, or left hand grasp to right wrist
Gyakute dori Reverse grip
Hanza handachi Tori kneeling and uke standing
Hiji mochi no tsukuri Technique structure of grasping of the arm with both hands (kansetsu waza)
Hiji waza Elbow techniques
Hontai no tsukuri Technique structure, doing the actual technique (atemi waza)
Jodan High level
Juntedori Normal grip
Kaiten Turning of the body
Kansetsu waza Joint techniques
Kihon no tsukuri Basic structure of techniques
Kihon ura waza Basic counter techniques
Kihon waza Basic techniques
Kouhou ryotedori Grasp to both wrists from behind
Kouhou ukemi Backward breakfall
Kuzushi Balance breaking
Nage waza Throwing techniques
Nigiri gaeshi After uke has grasped tori's wrist, tori returns a grasp to uke's wrist
Omote In front of
Osae Pin down
Randori kihon waza Basic randori techniques
Shouki no tsukuri Technique structure, timing practice, taking the chance to win (atemi waza)
Shomenuchi Straight downward strike with the handblade
Suwari waza Kneeling techniques
Tai Sabaki Avoidance
Tegatana Handblade
Tegatana dousa Basic hand movements
Tegatana no tsukuri Technique structure, use of handblade (kansetsu waza)
Tekubi waza Wrist techniques
Uki waza "Floating" techniques
Unsoku Basic foot movements
Ura Behind
Yokomenuchi Angled downward strike with the handblade
Yoko ukemi Side breakfall
Zenpou kaiten ukemi Forward rolling breakfall
DAN GRADE SYLLABUS
1st Dan - Shodan (more than 100 hrs practice after 1st kyu)
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Koryu goshin no kata (suwari waza, hanza handachi waza, tachi waza)Randori kihon waza (against tanto)Tanto kakari geiko and hiki tate geiko(both 2 mins. tori and 2 mins. uke - women & older people excluded)Important points for randori:- Correct timing is essential for effective atemi waza- Good tsukuri is essential for effective kansetsu waza
2nd Dan - Nidan (more than 200 days practice after 1st dan)
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Koryu goshin no kata (as for 1st dan + tanto dori)Randori kihon waza (against tanto)Tanto randori (2 mins. tori/2 mins. uke, 3 times - women/elderly excluded)Koryu nage no kata, omote and ura (women and older people only)
3rd Dan - Sandan (more than 250 days practice after 2nd dan)
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Koryu goshin no kata (as for 2nd dan + tachi dori, yari dori, yari, kumitachi)Randori kihon waza (against tanto)Tanto randori (2 mins. tori/2 mins. uke, 4 times - women/elderly excluded)Koryu nage no kata, as for 2nd dan + ouyou (women and older people only)
4th Dan - Yodan (more than 4 years continuous practice after 3rd dan)
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Techniques from tegatana no kuzushijodan no kuzushi 1. aigamae - ushiro ate 2. gyakugamae - ushiroatechudan no kuzushi 3. aigamae - oshi taoshi 4. gyakugamae -hikitaoshigedan no kuzushi 5. aigamae - kote gaeshi 6. gyakugamae-kotegaeshikouhou no kuzushi 7. ryote - oshi taoshi 8. ryote - ushiro ateGoshin ho (tekubi dori)aigamae katate dori 9. shomen ate 10. gedan ategyakugamae katate dori 11. shomenate 12. aigamaeate 13. gyakugamaeateGoshin ho (datotsushu)shomenuchi 14. aigamae ate 15. oshi taoshiyokomen uchi 16. aigamae ate 17. tenkai kote gaeshishomen tsuki 18. kote gaeshimae geri 19. shomen ate
5th Dan - Godan (more than 5 yrs continuous practice after 4th dan)
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Goshin ho (tekubi dori)aigamae katate dori 1. oshi taoshi 2. hiki taoshi 3. kote hineri4. kote gaeshi 5. tenkai kote hinerigyakugamae katate dori 6. hiki taoshi 7. gyakute dori kote hineri8. wakigatame 9. tenkai kotegaeshi 10. sumiotoshikatate ryote dori 11. tentai oshi taoshi 12. kote gaeshizenpo ryotedori 13.aigamae ate (tenchinage) 14.aigamaeate (tenchinage ura)kouhou ryote dori 15. tenkai ude hineri nage 16. kote gaeshi17. tenkai kotegaeshi 18.tenkai gyakutedori kotehineri
Notes
1. The examinee must have been taught by an official instructor.
2. For 4th dan and above, the examinee will be asked by the examiner to also demonstrate techniques from the koryu goshin no kata.
3. The examinee must verbally answer a question set by the examiner.
4. For 1st dan to 4th dan, within one week after the grading the examinee must submit a written report on a subject chosen by the examiner.
Definition of Terms for Dan-Level Syllabus
Aigamae katate dori Right hand grasp to right wrist, or left to left
Aigamae naka sode dori Right hand grasp to right sleeve, or left to left
Datotsushu Strikes, punches and kicks
Datsu ryoku Without strength, relaxed
Dogi dori Grasps to the dogi
Goshin ho Self defense method
Gyakugamae katate dori Right hand grasp to left wrist, or left to right
Gyakugamae naka sode dori Right hand grasp to left sleeve, or left to right
Hanza handachi Tori kneeling and uke standing
Hiki tate geiko Freestyle practice with some resistance
Juuji jime Cross-hand choke
Kakae dori "Bearhug" from behind
Kakari geiko Freestyle practice with no resistance and usually only basic style techniques
Katate ryote Grasp with both hands to one wrist
Koryu goshin no kata Old way of self defense